Development of a ReaxFF potential for Ag/Zn/O and application to Ag deposition on ZnO

A. Lloyd, D. Cornil, A. C.T. Van Duin, D. Van Duin, R. Smith, S. D. Kenny, J. Cornil, D. Beljonne

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42 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new empirical potential has been derived to model an Ag-Zn-O system. Additional parameters have been included into the reactive force field (ReaxFF) parameter set established for ZnO to describe the interaction between Ag and ZnO for use in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The reactive force field parameters have been fitted to density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed on both bulk crystal and surface structures. ReaxFF accurately reproduces the equations of state determined for silver, silver zinc alloy and silver oxide crystals via DFT. It also compares well to DFT binding energies and works of separation for Ag on a ZnO surface. The potential was then used to model single point Ag deposition on polar (0001¯) and non-polar (101¯0) orientations of a ZnO wurtzite substrate, at different energies. Simulation results then predict that maximum Ag adsorption on a ZnO surface requires deposition energies of ≤ 10 eV.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)67-73
Number of pages7
JournalSurface Science
Volume645
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

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